Someone asked Roy Halladay today if it wasn't as rewarding to help a team get to the postseason that had been there the three previous years as opposed to helping a team get there that hadn't been there in years and that you came up with....in other words, wouldn't it have been more rewarding to help the Blue Jays (Halladay's former team) get into the playoffs than the Phillies.

Halladay was very diplomatic with his answer:

"There is definitely something to be said if you're able to do it in a place you came up with," he said. "But I think once you realize how much goes into the season, how hard it is....we're looking at seven games back in the middle of the season with four or five guys hurt at once, and you realize what a challenge it is."

WHAT CHARLIE SAID ABOUT POLANCO

Manager Charlie Manuel is no longer worried about Placido Polanco's back, and doesn't think he'll be limited in any way.

"He's feeling very good," Manuel said. "He told me he's feeling a lot better, and I took that as he's going to play the game the way he always has."

CHARLIE ON DROPPING ROLLINS TO SIX HOLE

"I wanted to have a couple of right-handers behind (Ryan) Howard in case they brought in their left-handed relievers," Manuel said.

Sure, everyone felt good about the Phillies' chances even before Roy Halladay took the mound in Game 1.

But Shane Victorino is just as confident with Roy Oswalt going today.

“He’s got that swagger, that attitude when he gets on the mound that, hey, I’m coming, be ready,” Victorino said. “And he’s not afraid to come after you. He’s going to come at you with a variety of pitches. He’s gotten a lot better with his offspeed stuff. I don’t remember him being that good with his changeup. He’s got that devastating fastball, and of course his big curveball.”

For years, Oswalt owned the Reds. He won 22 decisions in a row against them, but that success has started to teeter as of late.

In his last four starts against Cincinnati, Oswalt has a 6.65 ERA. Included in there was his most recent start against the Reds on July 24 when he was still with Houston. On that day, he gave up six earned runs in five innings (the Astros lost 7-0).

“You’ll stay up all night trying to figure out how to get this guy, or the pattern of his pitches,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s a very tough competitor.”

Reds right fielder Jay Bruce said he and his teammates have confidence now when they come face-to-face with Oswalt.

“We have an approach that we have figured out that works for us against him, and we’re able to execute it,” Bruce said.

The Phillies are doing their best to put Wednesday’s memorable day behind them, but a few guys admitted they wanted to enjoy for just a little bit longer.

“I’m still excited. I’m still happy,” Shane Victorino said. “I don’t think you’re ever going to let something like that get out of your mind. I still remember the perfect game. That was May whatever.”

Rollins said despite how tired he was when he got home Wednesday night, he still turned on the TV.

“Yeah, I went to bed pretty late,” Rollins said. “You want to watch the highlights when you get home to see if you’re going to see anything new. It was great to be a part of. I was part of [Kevin] Millwood’s no-hitter. I missed the perfect game, and I’ll be able to be part of history. The man went out there in his first postseason game and didn’t miss a pitch. I’ve never seen his ball move so much and I don’t think Chooch has either. I don’t think anyone has, that’s why he was able to do what he did.”

Closer Brad Lidge got to enjoy the moment out in the bullpen with his fellow relievers. But he wouldn’t mind being in his own pressure situation again. He hasn’t pitched in a save situation since Sept. 24 (he did appear in two other games since then).

“If we’re going to win games like (Game 1) all the time, I’ll take it all postseason long,” he said. “But I’d like to get in there. I don’t really think there’s any lingering effects. I’ve gotten in a couple games. It’ll be nice to have that adrenaline again in a close game. I’ve been through longer stretches than that. You just get your work in, throw your bullpens, get ready and hopefully we’ll be in a position to have that happen tomorrow night unless Roy tries to match the other Roy.”

The playoffs always have an added buzz, not just for players, but for the media as well.

We get a little more dressed up, the press box is much more crowded and we are 10 times busier.

But it was all worth it on Wednesday because it was 10 times more fun.

I've never seen a no-hitter in person, not as a fan and not as a reporter.

It was incredible.

As early as the second inning, colleagues were talking about a no-no. I laughed at them, said it wasn't gonna happen.

Well, it did, and what an experience it was.

Halladay nearly picked catcher Carlos Ruiz up off the ground after Ruiz threw to first for the game's final out. Teammates were jumping on the pile to celebrate like they did only after winning the World Series two years ago.

It was something.

But that was only fitting considering how well Halladay pitched....what's the word athletes like to use now..."sick?"

It was sick.

Yet Halladay still passed on the credit. He kept saying "We" referring to him and Ruiz. And he made sure to talk about how great all his teammates are.

"It's fun playing on this team with guys like that who feel like they are always routing for you," he said. "You feel that team unity and it's fun to be involved with."

Halladay's two sons were at the game and in the clubhouse afterward. He gave each a big hug. His smile was never bigger than at that moment.

"Lucky," he said of getting to have them there. "It's been a lot of fun for me and you want to share things like this with family and friends. My family's here, and I feel like my friends are on the team, so it makes it more special."

Dingers: Polanco did not start because of stiffness in the middle of his back, but he doesn’t think it’s going to hinder him any longer. “It feels a lot better,” he said. “[Thursday] I’m expecting to practice and then I’ll play Friday.” … Victorino’s 35 postseason hits are the most all-time by a Phillie. … Ruiz has reached base safely in his of his last 21 postseason games. … The last time the Reds were no-hit was by Phillies pitcher Rick Wise on June 23, 1971. … Wednesday’s crowd of 46,411 was the third largest all-time at CBP. … The last Phillies pitcher to throw a shutout in the postseason was Curt Schilling in Game 5 of the 1993 World Series against the Blue Jays. … MLS star David Beckham was at Wednesday’s game. … The Phillies have now won each of their last seven Game 1’s in the postseason. Their last loss in Game 1 of a postseason series was on Oct. 3, 2007 against the Rockies. ...

Third baseman Placido Polanco was pulled from the starting lineup for Wednesday's NLDS Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park.

Manager Charlie Manuel said Polanco had stiffness and soreness in the middle of his back.

"And today when he came to the ballpark, it was even worse," Manuel added. "He came in and told me that he couldn't bend over. He said it hurt when he turned left or right."

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he originally felt something getting out of his car on Monday.

"We treated him (Tuesday) and he didn't come out for too many activities (Tuesday)," Amaro said. "He woke up, it felt better. But he came to the ballpark and it wasn't well enough (to play)."

Manuel said he didn't even pick up a bat before Wednesday's game.

But Amaro is encouraged by what he's seen so far.

"He's actually doing better now," Amaro said. "He just had some more treatment. I just talked to (head athletic trainer) Scott Sheridan, and he's doing better. Who knows, he may be available by the end of the game. I don't know."

Wilson Valdez is starting at third base and hitting eighth.

"He's had a big season for us," Manuel said of Valdez. "He's a tremendous defensive player. He's got a great arm. He can run, and he's had some big hits fo us."

The Phillies went 13-19 this year in games Polanco was out of lineup - versus 84-46 in games he started, according to ESPN.

The lineup switch forced Manuel to change around his batting order.

"The first lineup I had, Jimmy (Rollins) was not going to lead off," Manuel said. "When I took Polanco out, I moved Jimmy into the leadoff hole."

If the Reds visit to Citizens Bank Park in July is any indication, this NLDS could be a wild one. Those four games were decided by a total of five runs and three of them went into extra innings.

Here's a recap of the craziness from three months ago:

July 8: Northampton graduate Brian Schneider hit a walk-off home run in the 12th to give the Phillies a 4-3 win.

July 9: With the Phillies trailing 7-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Phillies staged a comeback. Cody Ransom hit a game-tying, pinch-hit two-run home run in the ninth to force extra innings before Ryan Howard's heroics in the 10th. The Phils first baseman drilled a two-run home run that gave his team its second walk-off homer of the night. The Phillies left with a 9-7 win.

July 10: Reds rookie Travis Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning before Carlos Ruiz hit a leadoff double and scored on Jimmy Rollins' RBI single in the 11th. The Phils won 1-0.

July 11: Cole Hamels threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings and J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge came on to secure the win. The Phillies' only run in their 1-0 victory came in the third when Ruiz doubled and later scored on Rollins' single.

"I feel confident in our pitching," Shane Victorino said after Tuesday's workout. "They can slug, we can slug. I have all the confidence in our guys that are going to take the mound."

But he wanted to make one thing clear...the regular season records can be thrown out the window.

"Everybody keeps talking about us having the best record in baseball," he said. "It doesn’t mean anything if you go out there and don’t win the World Series."

A ROLLINS NOTE

Although Jimmy Rollins said he hasn't stolen a base yet, he's confident that if could do it, and is no longer concerned about his right hamstring.

"I'm good to go," he said. "I could do anything I want to. I haven't had a chance to steal a base, and right now, that's not on the top of my list. My goal is to play as many games as I can. But if it's late in the game and I need to get into scoring position, I'll go for it."

HOW BAEZ TOOK THE NEWS

RHP Danyz Baez did not make the NLDS roster, and although he was bummed by the news, he didn't complain.

"I'll be with the team and I have to be ready in case of any injury – I hope not, you don't anybody to get hurt," he said. "The main thing is we have to win, that's why we're here. It's why we've played for sixth months, to get to this point. Whatever helps the team win, I agree with 100 percent."

We did not get to talk to Charlie Manuel about his roster moves because they were made after his press conference. I should have more details from you later about why he chose the players who did.

Roy Halladay has waited a long time for this moment, and he made it clear when he talked to the media on Tuesday afternoon that he's going to savor everything about his first postseason start.

"When you go through the course of 162 games and you're battling every five days, you feel like now is the time to enjoy it," the Phillies NLDS Game 1 starter said. "Obviously, you're going to give it everything you have. But when you get out there, I think you have to take it all in."

Halladay has made four career starts against the Phillies, including two this season. He lost his first outing on June 30, 4-3, and went eight innings. He allowed 13 hits and struck out 10.

In his second start against the Reds, Halladay picked up the complete-game win in the Phillies' 1-0 victory on July 10. He allowed just five hits in that game.

The biggest difference in those games?

"Eight hits," he said laughing.

Then, as always, Halladay put on his game face.

"I'm going to give up hits," he said. "That's part of who I am. I just executed better (in the second start). If you're executing pitches, you're going to be in great shape one way or another."

Although it's Halladay's first postseason trip, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has no concerns about his former Cy Young award winner getting too caught up in the emotions of it all.

"He has a lot of hunger. I think he's starving," Manuel said with a big chuckle. "He's intense and he wants it. This guy's for real. He's going to give it everything he's got. He's so locked into what he's doing."

GAME TIMES ANNOUNCED

MLB has announced start times for Games 3, 4 and 5.

Game 3 on Sunday will begin at 7:07 p.m. Game 4 on Monday (if needed) will be at 5:07 p.m. Game 5 on Wednesday (if necessary) will start at 6:07 p.m.

DID YOU KNOW?

--Manuel said catcher Carlos Ruiz and LHP J.C. Romero are both "good to go" for Wednesday's game. Ruiz left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch. Romero also left Sunday after feeling some back pain.

--The Phillies' NLDS roster has not yet been finalized, and we don't know if Manuel is going with 11 or 12 pitchers. "We might know sometime this afternoon or in the morning," Manuel said. "Right now we are not absolutely set on it, but it's very close."

--That four of the Phillies' seven games against the Reds this season went into extra innings. The Phillies won all four of those games.

--The Reds are in the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

--The workout did happen on Tuesday. It was raining when the workouts were originally scheduled, but the Phillies were able to take the field later.....Reds haven't gone out there yet, but are scheduled to.

Sometimes it’s hard to get used to there being so much talk about the Phillies’ dominant starting pitching.

That just wasn’t the case when I was a kid.

Don Carman, Pat Combs and Mark Leiter didn’t exactly compare to the top three starters the Phillies have now. Even when they had one really good starter --- i.e. Curt Schilling --- the rest of the rotation left a lot to be desired (1993 was an exception).

Think about how many times you dreaded hearing the stats of the Phillies starters. Now you can’t wait to brag about them on Twitter or to your buddies at a bar.

“They are all legit No. 1s, especially when they get to the playoffs,” Ripken said. “That type of starter can take it upon themselves to get out of jams and strike you out. That makes it that much harder; it makes it very, very difficult. The [opposing] offense has to think about maybe starting runners or playing hit-and-run or making sure they try to hit the ball on ground to advance a runner.

“On paper, this pitching staff is the reason why I think they’ll go back to the World Series.”

Darling said that the makeup of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt is just different enough that in-of-itself can throw opposing hitters off.

“Each pitcher is so diverse in Philadelphia with the way they get out,” Darling said. “Roy Oswalt cannot only mix a fastball up in the strike zone, but he can combine that with a great slider and a slow curve. Roy Halladay just hounds the corners with balls that sink and balls that slide.”

Darling, though, isn’t without concerns.

“My only question mark is that [Halladay] has never done it in the postseason,” Darling said. “When you make that first start in the postseason, it’s a whole different animal. It doesn’t seem like it’s the thing you’ve been doing since you were 9 years old.”

Here are a few stats for you to digest with the Big 3…

--All three are in the top 12 in the NL in ERA.

--Oswalt leads the NL in WHIP at 1.02.

--Halladay is second in the NL in WHIP at 1.04.

--Halladay leads the NL in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.30. The next closest was Josh Johnson at 3.88. Yikes!

But surely the Phillies are going to have to think about how they pitch Joey Votto. The first baseman leads the league in on-base percentage (.424) and OPS (1.024), is second in hitting (.324), is third in RBIs (113) and home runs (37) and is tied for four in runs scored (106).